The Kim Caldwell System

#626
#626
I'm still convinced that last year's team seemed to be more competitive and successful, due to the fact that the players had played 2-3 years in a standard college basketball system and learned the college fundamentals...having those 2-3 years along with CKC's free-flowing style of play, allowed the team to play more loose and broadcast their one-on-one and shooting skills they had acquired in their previous 2-3 year's...The defense and boxing out for rebounds was better, because that was what they were also used to...I'm not saying CKC system is bad, but I feel it works better with players that have those standard college fundamentals instilled...Yes, this type of system needs very athletic players, BUT having good shooters, is also a MUST...LVFL 🧡💙🧡
 
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#627
#627
Rooster1 said:
This is simply not correct. Even the top shooting teams will miss half of their shots. Snagging as many of those missed shot rebounds as possible has always been a meaningful tool for teams to have in their bag.
Click to expand...
Luv’ ya @Rooster1. But I guess I wasn’t clear in my comment (it was an attempt at humor.). To be more precise, Yes on a missed attempt it is better to be able to grab an O rebound. My point was that by changing the shot distribution, the team would be making more shots, thereby having fewer opportunities of O rebounds. In the original analysis the poster declared that shooting a high volume of 3-point shots (at 30%) was a good tactic because LV’s are a good O rebounding team. My (vague) point was, I would rather have a made 2 point shot than a rebounded 3 point shot. I think you agree with that premise.
 
#629
#629
I recall Talaysia Cooper steadfastly endorsing Coach Kim's System: "I love it!" Just figured that might be relevant. Because, if any one has been "thrown under the bus" (gosh, how folks love that phrase), Talaysia is that player personified. Everything from her consistency; her mental state; her health/conditioning/weight has been served up for surveillance.

So, for me, for now, that (Kim's way) is at the middle-to-bottom of our immediate concerns. But, next season? All bets are off!

I believe that our team will handle the fallout of the unfortunate press conference well enough. Several of the players have too much at stake than to do otherwise.

Coach Kellie Harper will bring her somewhat lame and short-handed Ambush back to where she and her teammates won NCAA Championships. Three of 'em! Oh, the good ole days.

Cheers!
 
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#632
#632
I posted this in one of the game posts, but think it should be here as it deals with what "the Kim Caldwell System" is and what it might be becoming. I was responding to a post suggesting Kim didn't want a traditional big and would play five guards if she could.

I wonder if this is still true? I think that the way we got beat up in the post in half-court last year made an impression on Kim. She went and got Janiah and Jersey, and has leaned on Zee -- so more "length" than "banger" and with Janiah, obviously wanting slashing offense and the three ball, still, an emphasis on inside. Don't know who she missed in the portal, but except for rare games, Robertson hasn't been the three-point shooter any of our top three were last year, and Mia is the only freshman who has show the capacity for consistent, volume 3-point shooting. Others may get there, though whether it will be this year is in doubt. Anyway, then Kim has gone out and recruited Big Oh and Gabby. I see Big Oh as possibly a better-in-every-way version of Janiah and Gabby in the same lane as Deniya -- a big, strong guard. Hopefully she can defend as well as Deniya and finish better at the rim as a freshman. (I expect Deniya to take a BIG step up next year on both finishing and her 3pt shot!)

Also, Kim was talking, from last summer, about getting inside and "shot selection" -- which I hear as "don't take an early three unless its the exact kind we want, let's get inside."

So, I know this is kind of muddled, but what I'm trying to say is I think Kim is evolving her "system" to account for bigger, faster, stronger, more talented players at every position AND the focus on teams who can recruit the very few that are out there on the dominant post player. I don't think she's there yet, certainly not on the court with this team, and perhaps not even in her own thinking, but as we see what happens with recruiting and the portal, maybe we will get more of an idea. Of course, the thing about watching who she signs is that we will never know who she truly wanted. No one gets the top of their recruiting list every year, and certainly this year's on-court performance so far hasn't been a boon to next year's recruiting. (Though, if they rally and perform significantly better for this las stretch... well, that would be a huge feather in Kim's hat and a big boost.)

Anyway, in the "List of Questions Someone Should Ask Coach Kim," what about, "You've said you would play five guards if you could. After two seasons in the SEC, how do you feel about that now, and what's your current thinking about where your system is headed and the players you need to run it?"
 
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#633
#633
RetroVol said:
Anyway, in the "List of Questions Someone Should Ask Coach Kim," what about, "You've said you would play five guards if you could. After two seasons in the SEC, how do you feel about that now, and what's your current thinking about where your system is headed and the players you need to run it?"
Click to expand...

IMO Kim would be thinking, even if she didn't say so, that she would want Mia x 1, Coop x 3, and Barker x 1 on the floor at all times. You could play practically positionless on defense. On offense, all can shoot, dribble, and pass enough to cause stress and problems for the defense.
 
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#634
#634
37620VOL said:
IMO Kim would be thinking, even if she didn't say so, that she would want Mia x 1, Coop x 3, and Barker x 1 on the floor at all times. You could play practically positionless on defense. On offense, all can shoot, dribble, and pass enough to cause stress and problems for the defense.
Click to expand...
I don't know about Kim -- not really into mind reading -- but that's a lineup that could run Kim's system, including, most especially, pressure, trapping, full-court defense. And, without any adds or losses rom the portal and without any additional recruits, for next year:
Mia x1
Coop, Civil, [the better of Latham or Prawl after off-season development]
Edwards (freshman version of Barker without the experience, but with more upside, and, hopefully a better mental game and motor).

That's pretty much the lineup you've just described.

Off the bench, again without losses or gains through the portal and not counting additional recruits:

Mya
Kaniya
[Latham or Prawl]
Gabby Minus
Lauren Hurst (needs to work on agility, shot, and aggressiveness)

Portal/spring recruiting has to fill any spots where we lose some who could stay and hopefully improve options in a couple of spots.
 
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#635
#635
I've been putting substitution analyses in each GAME THREAD comparing Tennessee to the opponent. Here's one looking at just the last seven games, and Claude's commentary. Personally, I don't come up with a lot of insights from this. There's some variation, but I don't see any definitive pattern toward or away from her system.

Done. The table shows Tennessee's substitution patterns across the last 7 SEC games chronologically. A few things stand out:

Missouri Q3 was peak Caldwell system - four consecutive 5-5 subs (7:47, 4:59, 3:45, 2:38) in a blowout win
Texas A&M Q1 also shows three 5-5 subs early, then all 1-1s to close
South Carolina - only one 5-5 the entire game (Q4 at 7:16, which was the white flag sub down 39)
Texas and Ole Miss Q4 - almost entirely 1-1 and 2-2 subs in close/losing games
Georgia OT - all 1-1 subs when it mattered most

Tennessee Lady Vols Substitution Patterns
Last 7 Games - Chronological

MSU
62-77 L		UGA
82-77 W		SC
50-93 L		MIZ
98-53 W		TEX
63-65 L		OM
81-94 L		TAMU
74-82 L
Q18:50 4-4
7:14 5-5
5:58 5-5
5:12 1-1
4:06 4-4
2:51 5-5
2:28 1-1
1:52 3-3		7:29 3-3
5:37 3-3
5:34 1-1
4:14 4-4
3:24 5-5
2:03 2-2
0:23 1-1		8:50 3-3
8:19 5-5
6:51 4-4
6:27 1-1
6:11 1-1
3:20 3-3
2:18 3-3
2:01 2-2		8:32 2-2
6:15 5-5
2:17 5-5
1:15 5-5
0:35 4-4		8:13 3-3
6:56 5-5
5:16 2-2
3:48 3-3
2:23 5-5
1:28 2-2
0:15 1-1		8:40 3-3
7:55 5-5
6:52 5-5
4:56 2-2
3:48 3-3
2:48 5-5
1:30 2-2
0:39 1-1		8:59 2-2
7:33 5-5
4:20 5-5
2:41 5-5
2:04 1-1
1:41 1-1
1:31 1-1
0:41 1-1
Q210:00 4-4
8:28 5-5
7:44 1-1
7:06 2-2
6:17 1-1
5:02 1-1
4:47 1-1
2:52 2-2
2:10 1-1
1:40 2-2
0:32 1-1
0:04 1-1		10:00 2-2
8:38 5-5
7:02 4-4
5:39 2-2
4:56 1-1
4:16 1-1
3:06 2-2
2:24 1-1
1:28 3-3
0:05 1-1		9:09 2-2
7:56 1-1
7:19 4-4
6:20 4-4
4:41 2-2
2:49 2-2
2:12 1-1		8:54 3-3
8:47 1-1
7:36 3-3
6:41 1-1
5:38 1-1
3:45 3-3
1:57 5-5		8:53 3-3
6:57 2-2
4:04 2-2
2:23 2-2
2:19 1-1
0:58 1-1
0:17 1-1		8:25 4-4
6:08 2-2
5:15 3-3
5:08 1-1
4:55 1-1
3:10 2-2
2:04 1-1		7:27 4-4
6:11 3-3
5:25 1-1
4:44 2-2
3:36 1-1
1:52 2-2
0:51 1-1
Q310:00 3-3
8:11 3-3
8:00 1-1
7:24 1-1
7:00 3-3
6:27 2-2
5:53 1-1
5:16 2-2
3:21 3-3
1:01 2-2		10:00 2-2
8:45 3-3
7:32 5-5
6:40 1-1
6:13 4-4
5:22 1-1
4:55 1-1
4:35 1-1
2:58 2-2
2:55 1-1
1:46 2-2
0:23 1-1		8:57 3-3
8:27 3-3
7:27 1-1
5:48 2-2
3:40 3-3
1:41 1-1		10:00 2-2
9:09 3-3
7:47 5-5
4:59 5-5
3:45 5-5
2:38 5-5
1:35 2-2		10:00 3-3
8:38 2-2
8:23 2-2
7:34 3-3
5:57 1-1
4:52 2-2
4:13 2-2
3:50 1-1
2:21 1-1
2:13 1-1
1:28 1-1
0:28 1-1		10:00 2-2
9:04 3-3
7:45 1-1
7:26 4-4
6:32 1-1
5:22 4-4
4:35 4-4
2:51 1-1
2:31 1-1
1:03 3-3		10:00 1-1
7:53 2-2
6:25 5-5
5:40 1-1
4:20 4-4
3:19 1-1
Q410:00 2-2
9:08 3-3
8:36 1-1
7:57 3-3
7:49 1-1
6:35 3-3
6:04 2-2
5:43 3-3
3:59 3-3
3:44 2-2
2:40 1-1		10:00 1-1
8:15 3-3
8:09 1-1
6:43 2-2
3:44 3-3
3:24 3-3
0:08 1-1
0:05 1-1		10:00 2-2
7:16 5-5
5:55 4-4
5:12 1-1
4:54 1-1		10:00 3-3
8:48 5-5
7:09 4-4
6:38 1-1
5:53 1-1
5:33 1-1
4:50 4-4
3:22 5-5
1:46 1-1
1:20 1-1		10:00 1-1
8:02 2-2
7:59 2-2
6:42 2-2
6:41 1-1
5:56 2-2
4:26 3-3
2:19 1-1
2:05 1-1
0:46 1-1
0:19 1-1
0:16 1-1		10:00 1-1
8:46 1-1
7:22 2-2
6:56 1-1
4:16 2-2
3:41 2-2
1:22 1-1		10:00 2-2
9:44 1-1
8:33 4-4
8:13 1-1
6:29 1-1
5:27 2-2
4:22 2-2
3:51 1-1
3:37 1-1
1:08 1-1
OT-4:45 1-1
4:10 1-1
0:11 1-1		-----
 
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#636
#636
And, just out of curiosity, heres' the last seven games of the pre-season:

Tennessee Lady Vols Substitution Patterns
7 Games Starting with Middle Tennessee - Chronological

MTSU
85-41 W		COPP
88-35 W		UCLA
77-99 L		STAN
65-62 W		WIN
112-40 W		LOU
65-89 L		USI
89-44 W
Q18:44 3-3
7:54 5-5
6:34 5-5
4:19 5-5
3:31 2-2
2:39 3-3
1:38 5-5
1:09 3-3		8:48 2-2
7:42 5-5
6:47 5-5
5:50 5-5
4:49 5-5
2:59 5-5
2:06 5-5
1:01 2-2		8:40 2-2
7:58 5-5
6:48 5-5
5:37 2-2
5:00 3-3
3:54 5-5
2:06 2-2
1:07 3-3
0:20 2-2		8:18 4-4
7:18 5-5
6:20 4-4
3:38 4-4
2:47 4-4
2:06 4-4
1:42 1-1
1:09 2-2		8:41 3-3
7:45 5-5
7:02 1-1
6:34 4-4
4:21 5-5
3:04 5-5
2:27 1-1
1:40 3-3
0:01 3-3		8:19 2-2
6:14 5-5
5:08 3-3
2:59 3-3
1:53 5-5		8:36 2-2
7:47 5-5
6:40 5-5
5:18 2-2
4:31 3-3
3:12 5-5
2:32 1-1
1:47 2-2
0:42 2-2
Q210:00 1-1
8:01 4-4
7:00 4-4
4:45 5-5
2:55 5-5
0:57 5-5		8:44 3-3
7:00 4-4
5:34 3-3
5:26 1-1
4:45 1-1
4:07 3-3
3:49 2-2
2:06 5-5
1:26 3-3		10:00 1-1
7:04 3-3
6:26 1-1
5:09 3-3
4:38 1-1
2:41 3-3
2:09 1-1
0:54 1-1
0:40 1-1
0:33 1-1		10:00 2-2
9:23 5-5
9:06 1-1
7:56 4-4
5:57 5-5
3:26 3-3
2:00 3-3
1:21 1-1		10:00 1-1
8:57 1-1
7:05 3-3
5:45 5-5
4:49 4-4
3:19 4-4
2:29 1-1
1:30 5-5		10:00 2-2
8:02 3-3
6:34 4-4
6:32 1-1
5:38 2-2
4:53 3-3
4:09 3-3
2:20 5-5
1:38 1-1
1:33 1-1
1:19 1-1		10:00 2-2
8:47 5-5
6:56 5-5
5:50 2-2
5:15 3-3
4:49 1-1
2:52 4-4
0:56 3-3
Q310:00 4-4
7:28 4-4
6:03 5-5
4:37 5-5
3:40 5-5
3:10 4-4
2:00 1-1
0:34 5-5		8:27 2-2
7:29 4-4
7:11 1-1
6:30 5-5
5:05 5-5
3:52 4-4
2:44 5-5
1:14 3-3		10:00 4-4
7:39 2-2
6:32 4-4
6:06 5-5
4:51 2-2
4:20 1-1
3:16 3-3
2:38 3-3
1:43 3-3		10:00 2-2
7:55 2-2
6:16 4-4
5:37 4-4
5:17 3-3
5:04 1-1
3:46 3-3
3:17 2-2
2:52 4-4
1:00 3-3		10:00 2-2
8:18 2-2
6:31 5-5
5:22 5-5
3:25 5-5		8:09 3-3
6:51 5-5
6:24 2-2
5:10 2-2
4:56 1-1
4:30 5-5
3:32 2-2
2:32 4-4
1:00 2-2
0:29 1-1
0:19 1-1		10:00 1-1
7:55 3-3
6:06 5-5
4:33 4-4
3:47 4-4
3:35 1-1
2:12 4-4
Q410:00 1-1
9:36 1-1
8:51 4-4
7:49 5-5
7:41 2-2
6:19 3-3
4:45 5-5
3:37 1-1
3:10 4-4
2:40 1-1		10:00 2-2
8:24 5-5
7:22 5-5
5:05 5-5
3:33 5-5
2:21 1-1
1:37 1-1		10:00 3-3
8:36 1-1
6:39 3-3
6:00 1-1
5:57 1-1
5:05 1-1
4:22 1-1
3:38 1-1
1:43 1-1		10:00 1-1
9:03 4-4
8:40 1-1
7:43 4-4
6:49 1-1
5:59 3-3
4:53 1-1
3:05 2-2
2:41 2-2
0:06 1-1		10:00 5-5
8:25 5-5
6:31 5-5
4:52 4-4		8:21 3-3
7:05 5-5
5:35 2-2
4:47 1-1
2:22 3-3		10:00 5-5
8:43 5-5
6:06 5-5
4:09 5-5
2:34 3-3
 
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#637
#637
This is part of the press conference after the A&M game (formatted by Claude), but I'm going to put it here because it goes to the longer term conversation about how Kim may adapt her system. The questions on this have begun and aren't likely to change.

Q: Coach, you've never really been in a position like this at Glenville. Like last year, six of eight, now you've lost. Is there anything that you've learned about yourself or are learning? Any adjustments that you're making in your philosophy as you face this challenge?

Yeah, I think big picture there's a ton more learning right now. I think when you talk about a career and you talk about how to build a program and all of those things, you're learning a lot and you write them down and you continue to figure out how you want to build this and what to learn from going forward. A coach reached out to me the other day and said, "Your second year is always your hardest year." I said, "Well, I never heard that. It would have been nice knowing going into your second year."

Q: Kim, anyone with a unique system is going to have some critics. What do you say to people that want to blame these losses on the system?

I don't think we're doing much of anything, and so I don't have anything to say about that. I think that all of our errors are at the end of the day on me, and I think that's understood. I think that comes understood with being in this responsibility.

***

Q: Going into the season there was maybe conversation that the press might have been better this year with the athletes you had on your team. It doesn't necessarily feel like that's come to fruition. You see flashes of it, but it's not really as consistent as it got to last year. Do you feel like you have a sense of why that's not clicking for them, or why they're not able to use it as a momentum swinger like last year?

Yeah, I think last year we were very consistent in who we played and how we played them, and our substitution patterns were consistent all year long — and they're not this year. We don't have consistent substitution patterns. We are not playing with the same rotations. We're very inconsistent about who can be on the floor, who shows up, who's what, and then we've been inconsistent with injuries as well.

But I think consistency of knowing what we're going to get out of each player can get better down the stretch.

***

Q: You mentioned learning a lot through this second year and writing some of those things down. What are some of those things that you have learned as you go through this year?

I think all of those things are big picture — those are philosophy and how to build — and I'll share those when the season is done. Right now, I'm very focused on continuing to try to win with this group.
 
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#638
#638
RetroVol said:
This is part of the press conference after the A&M game (formatted by Claude), but I'm going to put it here because it goes to the longer term conversation about how Kim may adapt her system. The questions on this have begun and aren't likely to change.

Q: Coach, you've never really been in a position like this at Glenville. Like last year, six of eight, now you've lost. Is there anything that you've learned about yourself or are learning? Any adjustments that you're making in your philosophy as you face this challenge?

Yeah, I think big picture there's a ton more learning right now. I think when you talk about a career and you talk about how to build a program and all of those things, you're learning a lot and you write them down and you continue to figure out how you want to build this and what to learn from going forward. A coach reached out to me the other day and said, "Your second year is always your hardest year." I said, "Well, I never heard that. It would have been nice knowing going into your second year."

Q: Kim, anyone with a unique system is going to have some critics. What do you say to people that want to blame these losses on the system?

I don't think we're doing much of anything, and so I don't have anything to say about that. I think that all of our errors are at the end of the day on me, and I think that's understood. I think that comes understood with being in this responsibility.

***

Q: Going into the season there was maybe conversation that the press might have been better this year with the athletes you had on your team. It doesn't necessarily feel like that's come to fruition. You see flashes of it, but it's not really as consistent as it got to last year. Do you feel like you have a sense of why that's not clicking for them, or why they're not able to use it as a momentum swinger like last year?

Yeah, I think last year we were very consistent in who we played and how we played them, and our substitution patterns were consistent all year long — and they're not this year. We don't have consistent substitution patterns. We are not playing with the same rotations. We're very inconsistent about who can be on the floor, who shows up, who's what, and then we've been inconsistent with injuries as well.

But I think consistency of knowing what we're going to get out of each player can get better down the stretch.

***

Q: You mentioned learning a lot through this second year and writing some of those things down. What are some of those things that you have learned as you go through this year?

I think all of those things are big picture — those are philosophy and how to build — and I'll share those when the season is done. Right now, I'm very focused on continuing to try to win with this group.
Click to expand...
Retro I really really appreciate the hard work you do bringing in real info. Puts us in danger of actually knowing what we're talking about for a change.

Kudos to the reporters for asking every pertinent question.

But good God y'all, It was bad enough when I heard it last night but to see this load of horse hockey gobbledy goop In print is even worse. I grant there's not a lot she can actually say at this point, but this Is just a more confused way of blaming the players

Translation She does not have the first clue. I just hope and really believe that she and the AD are reaching out for the help she desperately needs to get her head above water before she goes down for the 3rd time.
 
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#639
#639
Meant to add RE the presse: Such an odd choice to bring Mya since she had almost no impact on the game. Drew the short straw I guess . Mya did handle the awkward situation very well though, Including the confusion when the reliably spacey Maria didn't know which twin she was talking to at first. When pointed out, Maria blamed her own multiple concussions and a touch of CTE.

Cannot make this sh@t up.
 
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#640
#640
glv98 said:
Meant to add RE the presse: Such an odd choice to bring Mya since she had almost no impact on the game. Drew the short straw I guess . Mya did handle the awkward situation very well though, Including the confusion when the reliably spacey Maria didn't know which twin she was talking to at first. When pointed out, Maria blamed her own multiple concussions and a touch of CTE.

Cannot make this sh@t up.
Click to expand...
Was a very odd press conference to listen to. Hope Maria is taking care of herself
 
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#641
#641
RetroVol said:
Missouri Q3 was peak Caldwell system - four consecutive 5-5 subs (7:47, 4:59, 3:45, 2:38) in a blowout win
Texas A&M Q1 also shows three 5-5 subs early, then all 1-1s to close
South Carolina - only one 5-5 the entire game (Q4 at 7:16, which was the white flag sub down 39)
Texas and Ole Miss Q4 - almost entirely 1-1 and 2-2 subs in close/losing games
Georgia OT - all 1-1 subs when it mattered most
Click to expand...
If I could ask Kim one question It would be can I pour you a very large glass of wine, and yes I know it's only 10:00 in the morning.

If I could ask a second question, it would be about the obvious situational, intentional subbing late in close games highlighted above. Clearly, she believes situational sub gives her the best chance to win in the 4th quarter. So why does it also not provide the best chance in the first second and 3rd quarters? Why is it so important to get the mass subbing in early in the game, when logically the players least need the rest?

Based on what she talked about in her presser last night, I believe she still clings to the fantasy that she can recruit a team of 10 that allows her to do mass subbing throughout the game and not have any fall off. Including late in close games. I'm curious if she's previously had a pattern of slacking off the mass subs late in close games.

I truly think she believes she should idealy be able to auto rotate anyone in at any time and have the same chance to win. Sees having to change that up this year as a failure, mostly on the part of current players.

The complete and utter delusional nature of this explains a lot about why we are where we are. Because that's not happening in a million years at this level of competition
 
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#642
#642
glv98 said:
If I could ask Kim one question It would be can I pour you a very large glass of wine, and yes I know it's only 10:00 in the morning.

If I could ask a second question, it would be about the obvious situational, intentional subbing late in close games highlighted above. Clearly, she believes situational sub gives her the best chance to win in the 4th quarter. So why does it also not provide the best chance in the first second and 3rd quarters? Why is it so important to get the mass subbing in early in the game, when logically the players least need the rest?

Based on what she talked about in her presser last night, I believe she still clings to the fantasy that she can recruit a team of 10 that allows her to do mass subbing throughout the game and not have any fall off. Including late in close games. I truly think she believes she should idealy be able to auto rotate anyone in at any time and have the same chance to win. Sees having to change that up this year as a failure, mostly on the part of current players.

The complete and utter delusional nature of that explains a lot about why we are where we are. Because that's not happening in a million years at this level of competition
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Right! And if she still thinks it’s wearing other teams down, she’s delusional. This “system” should’ve wore a team like A&M out and they didn’t look tired at all.
 
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#643
#643
vols90 said:
Right! And if she still thinks it’s wearing other teams down, she’s delusional. This “system” should’ve wore a team like A&M out and they didn’t look tired at all.
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Probably why she doesn't even bother pressing and trapping better teams that much anymore. I just wish she could come to the same realization about the subbing. but probably unrealistic to expect that big a change this late in the year. Just enjoy the free fall ride down!
 
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Her system isn’t gonna wear down elite teams with just as good or better athletes than we have , the mass substitutions creates tired players waiting to come out is one glaring problem and then her next five come in and that creates terrible matchups with better teams best players and they give up 20 layups a game leads to 60% shooting and our free lance offense is stagnant with no ball screens or anything to get players free and we drive into contested layups and aren’t good at making those or free throws and then there’s the lazy 3’s from anyone at anytime is awful , pressure defense works against inferior opponents but not against most top 10 teams , if Kim doesn’t tweak her system her time here will be short
 
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Came across a couple of interesting pieces while looking to learn more about Caldwell's system, which is clearly foundering this year. I'm not sure what happened with all the tweaks/improvements we were supposed to see, especially since the staff felt confident they had the right personnel to run it. But if a system is fatally flawed to start with, it probably matters less who gets plugged into it; in the absence of all-around sound fundamentals, simply adding more speed and athleticism may just amplify the system's inherent deficiencies.

10.23.25: Ahead of the season’s beginning, “I talked to every individual staff member, our ops, our trainer, our conditioning” about what shifts needed to take place for the Lady Vols to continue the winning trajectory the team established last season, Caldwell told reporters in Knoxville on Wednesday. “[I had] probably three pages of things that we knew we could alter, change, tweak — and we have really done that. We’ve really become obsessed about getting better,” she added. Returning for a second season means a lot is “much more familiar: your scouting, not every team you play is brand new, you’re not having to do everything for the first time, but there’s a lot of different things that we want to grow upon and flat out change.”

Those changes include practical aspects of playing the game, assistant coach Angel Rizor told The IX Basketball, like “rebounding, defending more … communication.” But the biggest change the Lady Vols’ coaching staff is seeing is literal: “We have a team now that fits our style of play,” Rizor said. “Last year we had a really good team, but it was kind of a team that we got. We loved them, and they were really good, but now this year we have a team that, like Kim has said, has been the first team in a while that fits her system really well.”

Fitting that system means hitting shots — over and over and over again. “If you look through our players, every last one of them probably can drop 20 points on any given person,” Rizor said while gesturing around the Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Center, the team’s home. “And I think testifies to [our] style of play, we sub in five people, we play a five-out type of system. So it’s a perfect fit.”
Kim Caldwell’s mission is clear in Year 2: ‘Try to prove people wrong’

11.19.25: Kim Caldwell has been running her system for a decade now, which is long enough to have internalized every relevant question, complaint and frustration. There are plenty of them, and she can understand many, but there is one that has always bothered her. She hates when people call it a gimmick. If her teams look unorthodox—pressing aggressively, shooting on sight, making group substitutions like a hockey team makes line changes—that’s only in service of strategy. The coach hates the idea that she runs this for attention or novelty or style points. Caldwell runs it to win.

...Volunteers athletic director Danny White and the hiring committee liked what they saw in Caldwell’s record at D-II Glenville State and in her lone D-I season at Marshall. And they especially liked what they saw in a coach bold enough to try an unusual style, creative enough to make it her own, and self-assured enough to remain committed to it. “I was hired to do this,” says Caldwell, now 36, perched on a couch in her office shortly before the start of the season. “If this is what you want me to come here and do, then I’m going to come here and do it. If you want me to come here and do something else, I’m not the person for the job.”

...All of which has set up this season to be far more comfortable by comparison. Caldwell did not have to share her system to an entire roster from scratch this year. She did not have to learn how to adequately harness the resources and status of a top program. And, of course, she did not have to do all of the above while expecting her first baby.

If last season offered a proof of concept for her vision, this season gives her a chance to produce a more complete prototype. A year after a coaching experience unlike any other in her career, Caldwell is out to prove that nothing here is a gimmick.
Kim Caldwell Believes in Her Unconventional Basketball Style—And So Does Tennessee
 
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#646
Bigvalley84 said:
Her system isn’t gonna wear down elite teams with just as good or better athletes than we have , the mass substitutions creates tired players waiting to come out is one glaring problem and then her next five come in and that creates terrible matchups with better teams best players and they give up 20 layups a game leads to 60% shooting and our free lance offense is stagnant with no ball screens or anything to get players free and we drive into contested layups and aren’t good at making those or free throws and then there’s the lazy 3’s from anyone at anytime is awful , pressure defense works against inferior opponents but not against most top 10 teams , if Kim doesn’t tweak her system her time here will be short
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Agree. Kim thinks the problem is she doesn’t have the right personnel to perfect her system. We think the problem is good teams have, and will always have, the right personnel to beat her system.
 
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#647
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kamoshika said:
Fitting that system means hitting shots — over and over and over again. “If you look through our players, every last one of them probably can drop 20 points on any given person,” Rizor said while gesturing around the Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Center, the team’s home. “And I think testifies to [our] style of play, we sub in five people, we play a five-out type of system. So it’s a perfect fit.”
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Wow! Something sure didn't translate from pre-season practice to games!
 
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Took a chance. Gimmicky offense will not consistently work in the SEC. Move on sooner than later. Get a coach that is respected not one that looks and dresses like she just got out of bed at games. Embarrassing.
 
#649
#649
I would like to see one of her championship teams in action. I am not smart enough to know if it will work in the SEC but I really don't like to watch it at the current stage. Too many uncontested layups and off balance 3 pointers. It's hard to give up that many 100% shots and overcome them creating turnovers and having more possessions just to get even.
 
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VOLtaism said:
I would like to see one of her championship teams in action. I am not smart enough to know if it will work in the SEC but I really don't like to watch it at the current stage. Too many uncontested layups and off balance 3 pointers. It's hard to give up that many 100% shots and overcome them creating turnovers and having more possessions just to get even.
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I think any successful team she would have would have to be guard oriented and well above average three point shooters. They still need to be athletic and have a high learning IQ to be able to know when to press and when to drop back. It also would be players that have the ability to stay in front of an offensive player not guard to the side like we do so much. I doubt those Glenville teams even had a post player probably five guards. She didn't need a post there probably didn't need much of an inside game just line up five out shooters and play.
 
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